Project Report: The “Trusted Tap” Initiative for Water Quality Monitoring

Introduction: Advancing Sustainable Development Goals for Water and Health

A significant gap exists in the monitoring of drinking water between utility distribution systems and the point of consumption within households. This lack of oversight affects both homes served by public utilities and the 23 million American households reliant on private wells. The “Trusted Tap” project, initiated by researchers at Washington University in St. Louis, directly addresses this challenge. The initiative aims to empower individuals to monitor their own tap water, a critical step toward achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), which calls for universal and equitable access to safe drinking water. By providing households with data on contaminants such as lead and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), the project also makes a direct contribution to SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being) by mitigating health risks associated with waterborne pollutants.

Project Framework and Objectives

Core Methodology

The project employs an innovative, user-centric model for data collection and analysis:

1. Households utilize commercially available water filters for a standard replacement period.
2. The used filters are mailed to Washington University for comprehensive laboratory analysis.
3. Researchers analyze the filters to identify and quantify captured contaminants, providing a long-term profile of the household’s water quality.
4. Participating households receive a detailed report on their water quality, along with clear, actionable guidance for remediation if contaminants of concern are detected.

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals

The Trusted Tap initiative is fundamentally aligned with several key SDGs:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The project provides a direct mechanism for households to verify the safety of their drinking water at the tap, supporting Target 6.1 for universal access to safe water.
• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: By identifying hazardous chemicals like lead, chromium, and PFAS, the project enables preventative action to reduce illness and mortality from water contamination.
• SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure: It represents a significant innovation in public health infrastructure, creating a new, scalable system for decentralized water quality monitoring.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The pilot program in Chicago directly addresses urban water safety challenges during lead pipe replacement, contributing to safer and more resilient urban environments.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The project’s success is built on a multi-sectoral partnership model, uniting academia, government, non-profits, and community organizations.

Implementation and Strategic Partnerships (SDG 17)

Project Phases and Funding

Funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP), the project is advancing into its second phase. Phase 1 focused on establishing partnerships, conducting user research, and evaluating filter technologies. Phase 2 involves deploying the system within homes through pilot programs, with the potential for up to $5 million in funding over three years.

Multi-Sector Collaboration

Embodying the principles of SDG 17, the project leverages a diverse network of partners:

• Academic Institutions: Washington University in St. Louis (McKelvey School of Engineering, School of Public Health, Center for the Environment, Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, Skandalaris Center) and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
• Government and Community Partners: The Chicago Department of Water Management and the Cherokee Nation Office of Environmental Health.
• Non-Profit Organizations: The Midwest Assistance Program and RCAP Solutions, which provide outreach and support to private well owners across multiple states.

Technical Innovation and Research

Analytical Advantages

The methodology of analyzing used water filters offers distinct advantages over traditional water sampling:

• Long-Term Data Integration: A filter used over several months provides an integrated measurement of water quality over time, capturing intermittent spikes in contamination that single water samples might miss.
• Contaminant Concentration: Filters concentrate contaminants like heavy metals, microbes, and microplastics, allowing for detection of substances that may be present at very low levels in a one-time water sample.
• Logistical Efficiency: Shipping a dry, used filter is significantly simpler and more cost-effective than transporting large volumes of water.

Communication and Community Impact

Empowering Consumers for Health and Well-being (SDG 3)

A central component of the project is the development of effective communication tools. In collaboration with the Health Communication Research Laboratory and the Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts, the team is creating water quality reports that are scientifically accurate, easy to understand, and provide clear, actionable steps for households. This focus on health literacy is crucial for translating scientific data into positive public health outcomes, directly supporting SDG 3.

Pilot Program Focus Areas

The pilot programs are strategically designed to address critical water safety issues:

• Private Well Owners: This initiative provides a vital monitoring service for a population that often lacks access to professional water quality testing, advancing the goal of equitable water access under SDG 6.
• Urban Infrastructure Renewal: In Chicago, the project will monitor water quality in homes during the city’s extensive lead pipe replacement program. This provides residents with crucial information during a period of heightened risk for lead contamination, contributing to the development of safe and sustainable communities as outlined in SDG 11.

Conclusion: A Scalable Model for Water Security

The Trusted Tap project presents an innovative, scalable model for enhancing public health and ensuring water security at the household level. By integrating scientific research, multi-sector partnerships, and effective public communication, the initiative provides a powerful tool for achieving the ambitious targets of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly those related to clean water, health, and sustainable communities. The long-term vision is to transition the project from an academic endeavor to a self-sustaining service, ensuring its lasting impact on national water safety.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

1. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation
   • The entire article is centered on ensuring the safety of drinking water, a core component of SDG 6. The “Trusted Tap” project directly addresses the challenge of monitoring water quality once it enters household plumbing, aiming to provide safe drinking water for all, including the 23 million American households using private wells. The project’s mission statement, “we want everybody in the country to have safe drinking water,” aligns perfectly with this goal.
2. SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being
   • The article explicitly links water quality to health by mentioning the “health impacts of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS)” and other contaminants like lead and hexavalent chromium. By developing a system to detect these hazardous substances, the project aims to prevent water-related illnesses and protect public health, which is a key aspect of SDG 3.
3. SDG 9: Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure
   • The project is presented as an innovative solution to a long-standing problem. It is funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP) and is part of a program that “aims to accelerate breakthrough technologies.” The research into developing new methods for extracting contaminants from filters represents an enhancement of scientific research and technological capability, contributing to this goal.
4. SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities
   • The article mentions a specific pilot project in Chicago, a city with the “highest number of lead pipes in the country.” The project will monitor water quality in Chicago homes during the replacement of these pipes, a critical time when lead can “flake into the water supply.” This effort directly contributes to making urban infrastructure and basic services, like water supply, safer and more sustainable for residents.
5. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals
   • The success of the “Trusted Tap” project relies heavily on collaboration. The article details a multi-stakeholder partnership involving academic institutions (Washington University, University of Illinois), public entities (Cherokee Nation Office of Environmental Health, Chicago Department of Water Management), and non-profit organizations (Midwest Assistance Program, RCAP Solutions). This extensive collaboration exemplifies the spirit of SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

1. Target 6.1: Achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.
   • The project’s focus on empowering individual households, especially those with private wells who have “very little guidance,” to monitor and ensure the safety of their tap water directly supports this target. The article also notes that making the process “cost effective is key to reaching this population,” addressing the affordability aspect of the target.
2. Target 3.9: Substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination.
   • By creating a system to test for and report on specific “hazardous chemicals” such as lead, PFAS, and hexavalent chromium in drinking water, the project directly addresses this target. The goal is to provide households with information and “instructions on next steps” for remediation, thereby reducing exposure and preventing related illnesses.
3. Target 9.5: Enhance scientific research, upgrade the technological capabilities of industrial sectors… encouraging innovation.
   • The project is an example of applied scientific research aimed at creating a new technological solution for water monitoring. The work of PhD student Zehua Wang, who is researching “how to develop an efficient extraction method to recover those metals” from filters, is a direct example of enhancing scientific research to solve a practical problem, aligning with this target.
4. Target 11.1: Ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums.
   • Safe tap water is a fundamental basic service for adequate housing. The pilot program in Chicago, which monitors lead levels during the replacement of the city’s lead pipes, is a direct effort to ensure this basic service is safe for urban residents, thus contributing to Target 11.1.
5. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships.
   • The article describes a comprehensive partnership model. It is a “multidisciplinary effort” that brings together universities, government bodies, and non-profit organizations to achieve a common goal. The plan to “work with the commercial filter industry to keep the project running outside of academia” further highlights the commitment to building effective public-private and civil society partnerships.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

1. For Target 6.1:
   • An implied indicator is the number of households participating in the program, particularly those with private wells or in underserved communities. Progress can be measured by the program’s reach and the number of water quality reports generated and sent to households.
2. For Target 3.9:
   • A direct indicator is the measured concentration of specific contaminants (e.g., lead, PFAS, hexavalent chromium, microplastics) found on the analyzed filters. The water quality reports will provide quantitative data on the levels of these hazardous substances in household water, serving as a direct measure of exposure risk.
3. For Target 9.5:
   • An indicator of progress is the development and validation of new analytical methods for detecting contaminants. The article mentions research to “develop an efficient extraction method” and combine “multiple methods of contaminant removal,” including for microplastics and microbes. The successful creation of these methods would be a key indicator.
4. For Target 11.1:
   • In the context of the Chicago pilot, an indicator would be the measured levels of lead in tap water for participating homes during the pipe replacement process. Tracking these levels over time would provide a clear measure of whether the basic service of water provision is being made safer.
5. For Target 17.17:
   • A clear indicator is the number and diversity of active partners involved in the project. The article lists several partners from academia, government, and civil society, and progress can be measured by the successful collaboration and expansion of this network, including future partnerships with the commercial filter industry.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: source.washu.edu